[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: showgsd-l Digest V2 #2077
- From: "Hellwigg" <wendy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:53:47 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
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Personally I feel that dog shows are not and should not be all about
winning!!! Granted winning is surely a thrill and it is what we all
ultimately want to do on the day we have entered. Initially dog shows wer=
e
used as a tool to assess the quality of your dogs in comparison to the ot=
her
dogs being produced by other breeders. A true (supposedly) unbiased opini=
on
from a knowledgeable peer. A championship is supposed to be a testament t=
o
that dog's quality and that it does actually look like, act like and move
like our standard says it should. As an added benefit we get to show off =
our
dogs,have some fun with them and socialize with other people that have th=
e
same passions as we do. Going to a specialty show has the added benefit o=
f
getting the opinion of a "specialist" in your particular breed. As in any
sport (especially when the amount of money we spend is involved) egos,
favoritism, and greatly varied opinions become involved (it is the nature=
of
the beast). Also in my opinion our dogs should be able to excel in both a=
ll
breed and specialty venues .... not one or the other and a good one can a=
nd
always will. In the years that I have been breeding and competing with my
dogs (those years are considerable) I have witnessed many atrocities by
exhibitors, handlers, judges, spectators that certainly has not done our
breed justice but if we want to survive we need to find an acceptable and
enjoyable way to continue forward. Yes....there is favoritism (certain
handlers, certain known breeders) and often I have witnessed lesser dogs
winning over better dogs due to those favoritism but at the end of the da=
y I
am always happy to be coming home with the dogs I took and almost always
leave with "ideas" of how I can continue to move forward with my ultimate
goal of producing the best German Shepherd I can. Rarely do I walk away w=
ith
resentment and sour grapes sorry to have participated that day. Sometime=
s I
am disappointed, yes! But usually I feel confident that my best has been
presented well and made me proud. I am just as proud when one of my=20
homebred" dogs proves it's merit in a performance venue or I receive repo=
rts
about one of my dogs being a healthy, awesome companion. Through out thes=
e
36 years of doing this I pride myself in doing the best I can within my
means, presenting our dogs well, consistently moving forward, having a go=
od
network of peers with whom I share ideas, goals and values, enjoying our
dogs in more ways then dog shows, supporting the parent club by doing a j=
ob,
keeping true to myself and enjoying this breed with all they have to give=
us
Never has my goal been to be the best above all else nor do I follow the=
=20
hype" about going with the "flavor of the month/year". I try always to lo=
ok
at my dogs objectively and appreciate others for what they have to offer.=
=0D
=0D
Cost is considerable and continuing to rise and personally I feel that
between the rising cost and the "politics" our shows are certainly reelin=
g
from the blows. Do we need handlers? In my opinion yes! Can we afford the
ever rising costs of everything (gas, handlers, hotels, entries, at home =
dog
care) without it impacting on the numbers of shows we attend and the numb=
er
of dogs we show? No! Have I ever made a decision about hiring or not hiri=
ng
a handler over another based on fees? Yes! Have I ever made a decision ab=
out
going to certain show based on financial limits? Yes! Am I going to stop?
Not for these reasons! I definitely now have to very carefully pick and
choose where I go with whom based on finances available. =0D
=0D
In the 36 years that I have been doing this it is always the same issues.=
=2E..
Politics, all breed vs specialties, well known very experienced handlers =
vs
novice or less known individuals and always the conversation is heated an=
d
when it gets to be too much I take a dog for a walk or do some training o=
r
play with some puppies and all is well again. I have had some awesome win=
s
with my dogs at both breed and specialty venues and have pictures, trophi=
es
and rosettes up the ying yang but when it is all said and done it is my
heart that counts and the memories of the dogs and people gone by, the
pleasure I get from my dogs and the wonderful people I have met and when =
I
am nearing the end of all things those will be what count for me. =0D
=EF=BB=BF =EF=BB=BF =0D
Wendy Haddrall - Hellwigg Shepherds=0D
http://www.hellwiggshepherds.com=0D
"striving to be the best we can be"=0D
=0D
home of:=0D
BPISS Group winning Multi BPIG Ch Hellwigg's Fighting Borukai #3
Futurity/Maturity sire 2006=0D
BIM Ch Hellwigg's Flirty Girl=0D
Multi BPIG Breed winning Ch Hellwigg Kysarah My Girl=0D
BPISS Hellwigg's Island Girl=0D
Futurity placing Hellwigg's Just A Gem=0D
Hellwigg's Charm v Kristari=0D
RFM Breed winning Ch Kidjuuk's Jericho v Hellwigg=0D
FV Multi Group placing Multi breed winning Ch Shereldean's Legacy v Hellw=
igg
AOM=0D
Kristari's Any Which Way ROMC #10 top producing fut/mat dam 2004=0D
Signature's Eastwood v Kaleef=0D
=0D
Breeder of:=0D
Group winning Ch Hellwigg's By George=0D
Multi Breed winning BPIG Ch Hellwigg's Wish Master HIC=0D
Multi MPIB Ch Hellwigg's Cabaret v Dalshauna RTD=0D
BPISS Ch Hellwigg's Showtime at Nacasha=0D
Ch Hellwigg's Spellbound TEC=0D
Ch Hellwigg's Justice CD CGN TT HIC HT=0D
Ch Hellwigg's Rabble Rouser =0D
Ch Hellwigg's Shadowfax=0D
Ch Hellwigg's Excessive Force TT=0D
Hellwigg's Causin' A Commotion HIC=0D
BPISS Hellwigg's Gossip Girl =0D
and many pointed dogs & awesome family companions=0D
=0D
-------Original Message-------=0D
=0D
From: culzeans1@xxxxxxx=0D
Date: 8/22/2008 4:04:26 PM=0D
To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=0D
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: showgsd-l Digest V2 #2077=0D
=0D
Here is a good example of why entries are down. A good dog can show in ei=
ther venue and if you can't win at an all breed you need to examine your =
dogs. There are just as many good judges at all breeds as there are bough=
t and paid for specialty judges. It always works both ways, good and bad =
in either venue.?The question was about how to get more specialty entries=
,not how to=20
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